2020 NFL free agency news: Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue seeking $22 million per year

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue is reportedly seeking $22 million per year as he comes into his contract year, according to ESPN’s Mike DiRocco.

DiRocco goes on to predict the Jaguars use the franchise tag on him next month, but not without making some much-needed cuts.

All he has done since the Jaguars took him in the third round in 2016 is rack up 37.5 sacks (second on the franchise’s all-time list) and 14 forced fumbles. The tag would be for approximately $19.3 million, which is doable because the Jaguars are expected to release several players in the coming weeks to clear about $35 million ($46 million if CB A.J. Bouye is released). Ngakoue wants a long-term deal and is seeking about $22 million annually. He also indicated late last season that he would be unlikely to show up until the Aug. 11 reporting deadline for players under contract if he had to play on the franchise tag.

The Jaguars offered Ngakoue a short-term deal prior to the season, while Ngakoue was sitting out of voluntary workouts and the two sides didn’t come to an agreement. The deal was reportedly worth $19 million per year, but the guarantees for that deal were never reported and our sources indicate a lot of that $19 million per year was only in reference to the new years of the extension and there wasn’t a ton of guaranteed money.

With the emergence of Josh Allen and Ngakoue’s resurgence after finally being healthy, it would behoove the Jaguars to keep this pass rushing pair together for the long-term. The two were a force on Sunday and through multiple games this season have shown flashes of a dominating duo off the edge.